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111 and Labour's synthetic rage over NHS Direct

So the government under Labour piloted a new scheme This was a scheme to replace NHS Direct with a new 111 non-emergency number.

Quoting from this:
In the future, it could become the single number for non-emergency services, including NHS Direct.


Ministers did know about it:
Health Minister Mike O'Brien said: "Patients have told us that they need clear, easy advice on how to find healthcare quickly when it's less urgent than 999 and I am delighted that Ofcom has allocated 111 for these purposes.

"This will be particularly useful outside of GP surgery hours and for people who are away from home."


Now Labour seem to be against it.

The plan has provoked an angry reaction from Labour, with shadow health secretary Andy Burnham using it as evidence of what he claims is the government's intention to "dismantle" the NHS.

He said: "The health secretary's statement will stun people across the NHS.

"It is yet more evidence that Andrew Lansley is on a vindictive mission to break up the NHS, ruthlessly dismantling services before alternatives are in place."

Mr Burnham told the BBC that the government had shown "arrogance" and acted in a "cavalier" way by choosing to scrap NHS Direct without consulting the public.

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